Redirection due to unexpected A-level results: Loughborough or Uni of York?

[sundrenchedsummerandrose]

Specifically for Economy.

YP into a sport and has played at district and just below county level in a sport they're passionate about.

Was predicted A star AA and was on track for A*/A and A and A/B but achieved BBB (the drop from A star was a real surprise).

Would be grateful for any advice, comments etc as YP distraught as didn't get their first/insurance choices.

Keen on campus.

Also has offers from following unis:
Reading
Lancaster
Cardiff
Southampton

Thanks in advance.

Harlequins RFC train at Surrey.

Hey @sundrenchedsummerandrose I missed this somehow and probs your DC has had to decide by now but some thoughts.

Lancaster a very good uni and well rated I believe for econ. Friend of DS2's went there and played football (very competitive to get into the team) for the Roses matches which were great.

DS2 is at Lboro (and never leaving apparently – this seems to be not unusual!) - his initial sport was footy but he didn't get into any of the teams (huge numbers for not that many places). Tbf if you are (say) a male 100m runner (I know a bit about BUCS athletics) you will have to be a very high standard to compete for the uni (this is what people often say about Lboro) but you can train, and compete at intra-mural level.

DS switched to his other sport (American football) and that needs a huge squad so for the last four years everyone who wants to play is welcome on the team. They won the BUCS trophy a couple of years ago and were able to give the whole squad some game time in the final. Just to redress the “only the world-class athletes will get to play for the uni” line. You don’t say what sport but as you see, that is a factor. Lboro very strong on rugby, athletics, swimming (obvs - Olympic pool).

If £££ is a factor, we have found accommodation in Lboro cheaper than some friends with DC at other cities. HTH and best wishes to your DC whatever they decide.

Edited to add: Lboro campus biggest in the country (!) and very lovely – everything you could need. Lancaster similarly excellent. York more city based and split site.

Not economics but dd was deciding between these two universities last year and in the end went for Loughborough first choice with York as insurance. She did slightly prefer the York campus but in the end she preferred the accommodation options at Loughborough, and mainly the fact that you can stay in halls in year 2 and 3 if you want. York accommodation can be expensive.

Dd very happy with Lboro but not sporty though. The campus always seems peaceful and relaxed when we visit.

thank you very helpful. Cricket is the main one, but dabbles in social football and likes all sports really.

On CUG 2025 league tables Lancaster, York and Loughborough are 15,18 and 19 respectively for Economics so would base your decision on other factors!

But def worth drilling down on modules. Not economics but course content made a real difference to DDs choices.

@aliveandkickingjust YP leaning towards Loughborough.

Interestingly enough, no more courses in clearing there for the subject but there are at the other unis. Higher entry grades needed at Loughborough (and higher historical 'typical and highest' grades too). So going for uni ranking, opps and campus.

Plus into sports.

Even if they don't make a BUCS team (which are ultra competitive) they can play for their hall team. DD is going to Loughborough (was her firm), she plays a sport at an elite level ( she plays for GB) but if it helps she is not allowed to play her sport for her hall although obviously will play BUCS so the top athletes don't take all the hall team places. She is looking forward to trying new sports for her hall though.

I think if they want campus and love sport then Loughborough is a no brainer.

My daughter went to Lancaster, not for economics though, she was social sciences.

She had a brilliant 3 years, supportive tutors, relatively reasonably priced accommodation (none is 'cheap' now) good social scene, made life long friends and also got a 2:1. She was sport-ish, and found that there were things for all levels, and the wars of the roses even had things like tiddly winks competition in her day.

The only thing I can say against it is that she liked it so much she stayed in the north, and didn't come back to the south to live.

Just to update - went for L'boro and LOVING it.

Even the halls, which ended up being catered and shared bathroom (wanted ensuite). They now don't 'care' about shared bathrooms, apparently! Have settled in brilliantly and made some great friends.

The halls things I hadn't quite realised but seems quite similar, I think, to the collegiate systems at Durham and York - IMS sports is big at L'boro.

YP went without knowing anyone but has made some amazing, likeminded friends and the halls Y2 students and warden were so welcoming from the start. And lots of hall freshers' events. Only Y1 but couldn't fault it so far.

Love this @sundrenchedsummerandrose glad they are liking it so far. Hope the sport is going well (not really cricket season). There's always so much to watch too and such encouragement to come along and cheer. Hope it all stays positive :)

@sundrenchedsummerandrose Wonderful news - clearing can result in super outcomes...

Thanks. Got through to 2nd trials but didn't make any of the teams but doing IMS football and golf outside and going to the gym almost every day. Will try for IMS cricket next year!

Just as an update, if helpful: YP chose Loughborough University and is LOVING it. Has made an amazing new, circle of friends.

As predicted, didn't get into the BUCS but is playing football and cricket for their halls/IMS and really enjoying that.

Also joined the Finance Society and an analyst on the student managed fund, which have been fabulous experiences for them.

Ended up with sharing WC/showers but not been an issue at all. Loving the food at their hall. Catering is definitely recommended for easy socialising!

Genuinely seems to have a better time - and with more contact hours etc - than their friends who is at the uni they originally had applied to.

UOY is also a campus uni and York is more interesting than Loughborough quite honestly. York probably has more expensive accommodation but is a RG university.

@keepswimming38 Yes, I know York is good too, but this was an update on where we landed.

For what it's worth, I'm not too bothered about Russell Group, especially as the offer from York was lower on official entry offer, and same (lower on Clearing) + lower on the UCAS stats too than L'boro. Also noted that the York course in clearing (generally a competitive course in the UK) stayed open way longer than at L'boro, where it went within hours. Actually, YP had offers from other Russell Groups too, but similar story - their clearing offers were lower and stayed open longer. Read into that what you will.

Agree that L'boro town is not much to look at but they frequently head to Nottingham, as only a short ride, and the student union at L'boro is really, really good.

So glad it worked out for him, OP. Missing an offer due to A-level grades can seem like the end of the world to them at the time, but it very often works out for the best in the end.

Lboro graduates tend to do very well on employability measures so I'm sure he will thrive.

Yeh agree with @sundrenchedsummerandrose (I mean I would haha) that RG is not the be-all and end-all. Certainly if a YP preferred another course I wouldn’t push RG just for that reason.

Anyway Luffers along with such as Bath, Lancaster and St As is recognised (certs for certain courses) as RG+ so just as well regarded tbh. York is a great uni tho for sure.

The campus at Loughborough is so much nicer than York. York has that split site and the main site is pretty unattractive. Loughborough has so much going on right there on campus.

York probably has more expensive accommodation but is a RG university.

This is totally irrelevant.

@keepswimming38 Four of the top ten universities in the Complete University Guide are not RG (Bath, Lancaster, Loughborough and St Andrews). They are more highly regarded than York and are commonly known as RG plus universities.